In memoriam: Patrick B. Ytsma

Patrick B. Ytsma, 53, of Bethlehem, died December 8, 2011, at St. Lukes Hospital, Fountain Hill campus, after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle. He was the husband of Judith B. Parr, with whom he shared 23 years of marriage.

Born in Oklahoma City, OK, Patrick was a son of Bill T. R. and Itie (Velds) Ytsma. He was an architect for Spillman Farmer Architects, Bethlehem.

Pat would want everyone to know that bicycles have the same legal rights to the road as cars. Please treat bicyclists with respect.

Services: Saturday 11 a.m. at Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, 17th & Hamilton Streets, Allentown. Burial will follow at Fountain Hill Cemetery, in the green section. Call10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Bicyclists are invited to follow with their bikes to the cemetery. This will be the very first green burial in the Lehigh Valley.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Judith B. Parr, for the purpose of establishing educational funds for their children. Donations may be mailed or delivered to the funeral home, 1629 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18102.

Please sign Guest Book on themorningcall.com/obits

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The Morning Call Archives

Publication Date: December 8, 2011

By Spencer Super, Frank Warner and Pamela Lehman Of The Morning Call

Headline: Avid cyclist near death after Bethlehem crash; Patrick Ytsma, 53, was struck by a car Sunday while riding his bike on the Fahy Bridge.

Patrick Ytsma, the Bethlehem bicyclist hospitalized since he was hit by a car on the city's Fahy Bridge on Sunday, was taken off life support Wednesday night, his mother said. "It's a sad time," said Itie Ytsma, of Bethlehem. "He was in a terrible state and had a lot of damage."

Patrick Ytsma, 53, was still alive late Wednesday, but was not expected to live long, as doctors at St. Luke's Hospital-Fountain Hill prepared him for organ donations. His mother said the doctors allowed his wife, Judy, and other close family members to see him one last time in the afternoon "to let us say goodbye." She said she would remember him for his love of bicycling and architecture, and for his good cheer.

"He was very talented, a very kind person, a very good architect, and the best son you could have," she said. "He was a lot of fun, always teasing people. And he was always on the bike."

Patrick Ytsma discovered the joy of bicycling when he was about 9 years old and his Dutch grandfather invited him and his brother, Powell, to the Netherlands for a vacation that included a three-day biking trip. "After that, he was sold on bikes," his mother said. "He loved it. I thought, 'he's the one person who would not have an accident because he has been cycling his whole life.' I'm so upset."

The crash also shocked fellow cyclers because Ytsma was such a stickler for bike safety. Ytsma was riding his bicycle south on the Fahy Bridge at about 4:30 or 5 p.m. Sunday when he was struck by a car driven by a 79-year-old woman, police said. Police are still investigating and the driver's name was not released. Ytsma was wearing a helmet and reflective gear, police said.

Ytsma rode with the Lehigh Wheelmen Association, one of the Valley's largest cycling groups, and was involved with the Coalition for Appropriate Transportation, a Bethlehem group that advocates cycling and mass transit. He was known in the cycling community as safety advocate, encouraging fellow cyclists to take safety courses and follow traffic laws.

He commuted 11 miles round trip by bicycle to his job at Spillman Farmer Architects in Bethlehem, and would also ride his bicycle for errands, such as grocery store shopping. Anthony Lauro of Palmer Township worked with Ytsma at a different architectural firm in Easton several years ago. They rode bikes to work together and participated in some charity races. Ytsma loved to be on any kind of bicycle, and even rode in a 45-mile race on a "Pee Wee Herman" type bike from his childhood that had a basket on the front handlebars, Lauro said.

"It's just sad," Lauro said. "He always had the safety stuff. He always wore a helmet. When we used to go riding, he would follow every single traffic sign. Stop sign, yield. He followed it to the letter of the law." News of Ytsma's crash is chilling to other cyclists, Lauro said. "This makes you leave the bike at home," he said. "A lot of people don't think you have the right of way or just as much right to be there. A lot of people go way too fast."

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I saw the aftermath of the accident on the Fahy Bridge Sunday night. Of course I did not know it was Pat who was on the bicycle that was struck. I only hope that this terrible tragedy results in bicyclists being more cautious on the roads. If even one life is saved that will bring some good out of this senseless death.

Posted By: Sharon Splett | Dec 9, 2011 2:50:53 PM

Dear Judy ---
We are so upset about Pat, and you and your children.
It has been a long time, much too long since you came to Kirkland to visit your Mother and Father, but we remember those visits with much fondness. I no longer ride a bicycle since I had some difficult times in 2010 with some surgeries and other issues. What happened to Pat was always on my mind when I led groups of riders for Genesis, training them for the annual Gap Gallop Century Ride. Peace be with you and your children; love Kris and Howard

Posted By: Howard Gallup | Dec 9, 2011 5:12:50 PM

Willem and my daughter take AP Spanish together; she has only wonderful things to say about him and we cannot put into words our sadness for your overwhelming loss. I tell my children that the only "fair" in life is the one with rides and games...

This is a senseless loss to everyone as he was truly a touchstone individual!

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about this blog

Morning Call Reporter and Columnist Dan Hartzell is The Road Warrior, defending the drivers of the Lehigh Valley and the roads on which they drive. E-mail questions about transportation in the Lehigh Valley and beyond to hartzell@mcall.com.